Senate Responds to Africa Emergency Food Needs; Catholic Networks Mobilized in Anticipation of Vote

Catholic Relief Services
Friday, 24 January 2003

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) praised the U.S. Senate today for including in its 2003 spending package an additional $500 million for emergency food aid to sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 34 million people are at risk of starvation. The amendment, sponsored by Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, passed by unanimous consent and was supported by a variety of U.S. constituencies including the Catholic Church, farm and agricultural interests and the humanitarian aid community.

"The Senate action finally makes relief for the hunger crisis in Africa a priority for Congress," said Bill O'Keefe, Director of Government Relations for Catholic Relief Services. "We now need support in the House of Representatives to deliver the additional food aid before a catastrophe unfolds across Africa."

Catholic Relief Services mobilized dioceses across the United States to inform Catholics of the critical vote. Their support was instrumental in the amendment's passage. Earlier this month, the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop Wilton Gregory, along with CRS Chairman and President Bishop Robert Lynch, called on their fellow bishops and Catholics to pray and take action for those in Africa affected by severe food shortages.

CRS also worked through the Coalition for Food Aid, a group of American charitable organizations distributing food aid overseas, to garner the support of various agricultural interests for the measure's passage. Additionally, the amendment had strong support from Interaction, an alliance of U.S.- based international development and humanitarian organizations.

Co-sponsors of Nelson's amendment included a bi-partisan group of lawmakers including Senators Thomas Daschle, Patrick Leahy, Jon Corzine, Mark Dayton, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici and Richard Durbin.

Countries throughout Africa are currently facing severe food shortages and possible famine. The crisis is exacerbated by an HIV/AIDS rate averaging more than 20 percent in the affected countries. Those infected with the disease require 30 to 50 percent greater daily caloric intake.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is one of the lead agencies of a consortium of American private voluntary organizations that will distribute food in the southern Africa region through September 2003. In the Horn of Africa, CRS seeks to reach more than 4.7 million people with food assistance through April 2003 in coordination with its partnering international and Ethiopian relief organizations.

For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org